Pulitzer-winning journalist Jonathan Kaufman's new book, When America Roared, examines how the 1980s shaped modern America by focusing on influential figures who defined the era. Though Trump is depicted as quintessentially a creature of the 1980s—characterised by glitz, excess and gold decoration—he was mocked even then, including by General Electric CEO Jack Welch, yet must now be taken seriously. Kaufman explores how the choices made by key individuals during this decade continue to reverberate through American society today.

The book centres on several pivotal figures: Jack Welch, who revolutionised GE's business model whilst brutalising workers (earning the nickname "Neutron Jack"), contributing to wages that are now at historic lows; Karen Nussbaum, the feminist labour leader who inspired the 1980 film 9 to 5; John Rogers, now Wall Street's most prominent Black figure, whose political views shifted from Reagan support to close alignment with Barack Obama; and Evan Wolfson, Kaufman's former college roommate, who conceived the idea of gay marriage as a Harvard Law student when it seemed absurd, yet successfully led the movement to victory in 2015. Kaufman's approach emphasises that the 1980s were shaped by individual decisions rather than abstract forces.